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of the greater contribution to each generation from the most fit individuals. Johnson
and Lam are basically solidifying the traditional claim of survival of the fittest.
b. According to a book byFrancisco Jose Ayala, Darwin came up with the idea of
natural selection to explain the organized adaptive behavior of a group in any
particular species, and that evolutionary change is a byproduct that doesnt always
occur as a result of natural selection.
c. Johnson and Lam, mentioned before say that natural selection is a theory that came
about as a result of research and observation that was done using the naked eye. They
believe that for physical changes to occur, interaction between the environment and
the organism at the cellular level had to happen. Their big example is that the cell
membrane may have developed before DNA. They said that a barrier to the outside
world was a major factor in creating the conditions for life. The DNA has instructions
on how to manipulate the behavior of the membrane to either create hills or
depressions to direct molecules from or away from certain regions.
3. The theory of evolution, as it exists today, went through a rigorous refining process. The
science of genetics and the idea of random mutations along with learning how to use
tools have been plugged into the idea of natural selection to expand and solidify the
theory.
a. In his book, Ayala wrote that the discovery of genetics by an Austrian monk named
Gregor Mendel was the missing link in the theory of evolution. Mendels work was
happening at about the same time Charles Darwins Origin of Species was published.
The main point of Mendels work is that genes maintain their distinct characteristics
in the crossbreed and are so passed on by the hybrid to its descendants.
b. Ayala also said that the discovery of mutation is also an important contribution to the
theory. Mutation is the changing of one gene into another. Mutations that are not
suited for an efficient adaptation dont get passed on to their descendants, and
eventually that mutation dies out. Mutations that are useful get passed down through
the generations.
c. In an article titled "The story in the stones which appeared in New Scientist on
March 1, 2014 David Robson wrote that the motor control areas of the brain that are
used for learning how to use tools effectively also function to produce language, and
speech as methods of communication.
Using our methods of verbal communication, we as a species eventually put our history down in
print so that it could be accessible through a means that only requires looking, and sometimes
listening. If you were listening, I told you that Darwins ideas were around before his family that
Darwins theory is prevalent and is continuously being expanded upon. If this theory is true, and
I hope it is, then we will continue to evolve whether we believe its happening or not.